By KT Reporter
Rubanda district has finally received an ambulance from the Ministry of Health.
In September 2021, Rubanda district leaders; Stephen Ampeire Kasyaba, District LC5 Chairperson and Minister of State for Finance in charge of General Duties, and Alex Kwizera, then Chief Administrative Officer, shared images on social media confirming the receiving of the ambulance, registration number UG 7554M from the ministry, following the rollout of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) policy approved by Cabinet. They also announced that the vehicle will be stationed at Hamurwa Health Centre IV in Rubanda East constituency.
However, since then, the ambulance was not delivered to the district. Two weeks ago, Uganda Radio network exposed how locals demanded to know its whereabouts.
But, Emmanuel Ainebyona, Senior Communications Officer at the Ministry of Health, urged for patience, saying the ambulance is still being equipped. Failure for the ambulance to start it’s operations became a campaign song for Kenneth Jogo Biryabarema and Mbabazi Pierre Ntegyereize, who are competing against Musasizi on Rubanda east constituency MP seat in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primaries.
They accused Kasyaba and Musasizi of hiding it and later use it to gain support that they are the ones who lobbied for the ambulance.
On Friday, the Toyota Land Cruiser ambulance arrived at Hamurwa health centre IV but instead with registration number UG3100163.
Dr Abdon Birungi, Rubanda district health officer explained that the ambulance is equipped as a Type B, mobile Intensive Care Unit (ICU, complete with life-saving equipment. According to Birungi, though it is planned to be stationed at Hamurwa Health Centre IV, it will also serve the entire Rubanda, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
Birungi says that the district refers to higher health facilities with an average of 20 patients on a monthly basis adding that the new ambulance will reduce emergency response time, especially for mothers, infants, and critically ill patients.
Stephen Ampeire Kasyaba . Rubanda district LC5 Chairman says that with a new district hospital in the pipeline, another ambulance will be acquired to further enhance emergency care-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
